At-Home Summer Skincare

The sun, as nurturing and healing as it can be in the right amount, can lead to dry, lacklustre, burnt and inflamed skin. One solution is to do weekly (at a minimum) at-home face masks.

Homemade face masks mean that you can pamper your skin before going to sleep, if you’re seeking a natural glow the next morning. If you need a morning refresh and pick-me-up, it’s a beautiful addition to your morning routine.

The best thing about these homemade recipes is that they incorporate fresh and natural ingredients.

You can easily pick up most of these ingredients at your local grocery store if they aren’t already in your pantry and fridge.

Feel free to substitute some of the oils depending on what you have and what your skin goals are. Depending on your familiarity and skin type, a test patch is recommended. I only recommend using Young Living essential oils to ensure purity and maximum benefits.

Considerations when making an at-home face mask:

• Wash your face with a natural, gentle cleanser

• Ensure that your mask isn’t too thick or too thin

• Apply it on your face in circular motions with clean hands or a dedicated make-up brush

• When applying, avoid the eye area

• Rub it for about two to three minutes, covering your face, neck and décolleté

• Allow the mask to sit on your face for 15-30 minutes

• Remove the mask, gently with a warm (not hot) face cloth

• Splash your face gently with cool water to close your pores

• Pat your face dry using a clean, dry towel

Decide which face mask is best for your skin type, but try a few to see which one feels the best, evens out your skin tone, texture and leaves your skin feeling most rejuvenated.

You can get all of these recipes in a one-page printable document here.

Natural Face Masks for Summer Skin

Skin Quencher Best for: parched, sunburnt skin

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp pure aloe vera gel

• 2-inch piece of organic cucumber

• 1 drop of lavender essential oil

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined

This mask combines three ingredients—aloe, cucumber, and lavender essential oil—known for their ability to soothe, hydrate, heal, and improve the appearance of your skin tone.

Aloe contains the natural compound aloin. Lab tests show that aloin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

‌Other research shows that aloe vera is useful specifically for treating burns. A review of four studies involving 371 people found that aloe vera is effective for treating first- and second-degree burns. Cucumber is 96% water which helps to hydrate and cool irritated skin.

Lavender essential oil can be helpful for reducing sunburn-related skin irritations while providing healing effects.

Skin SOS

Best for: lacklustre, dry skin

Ingredients

• 4 organic strawberries, stems removed

• 2 tsp of high fat Greek yogurt, unsweetened, unflavoured

• 1 drop of frankincense essential oil

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined

One of summers most bountiful fruits, the strawberry, this fruit is chock-full of powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin C, polyphenols and anthocyanins, so it helps with protecting your skin from environmental stressors such as the sun. Yogurt contains a natural form of lactic acid, so it works as an effective exfoliant while having an emollient effect on the skin.

Frankincense essential oil brings calming properties to irritated, dry skin. Not only does it have the potential to minimize scars and fine lines, it supports skin cell regeneration, which makes it great for reducing flaky skin. It also reduces inflammation and evens skin tone.

Glow Skin

Best for: irritated acne-prone skin

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp kaolin clay

• 2-inch piece of cucumber

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 drop of copaiba essential oil

• water to blend

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined

Kaolin clay is full of minerals and detoxifying ingredients, yet it’s gentler and less drying than many other clays. This makes it suitable for many skin types, sensitive skin included. Kaolin clay absorbs excess oil and dirt from the skin, it helps clean out pores and prevent blackheads and breakouts.

Some also find it to be soothing and that it can help reduce redness and signs of inflammation.

While mint cools down irritated skin and anti-bacterial properties turmeric helps in combating breakouts, making the skin appear brighter, more even and protects the skin against age-related sun damage.

Copaiba essential oil is the most powerful anti-inflammatory oil we currently know about. It’s helpful for reducing redness, soothing irritation and gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Absolute Hydration

Best for: oily, dehydrated skin

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana

• 2 tbsp of raw honey

• 1 tsp of freshly squeezed orange juice

• 1 drop of helichrysum essential oil

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined

There are individuals who produce oil, yet are also experiencing dehydration- the two can co-exist! This only prompts the skin to produce more oil to compensate.

Along with providing moisture, banana is great for eliminating bacteria that can cause breakouts and inflammation.

Honey is a common ingredient in the beauty industry but choosing a good quality, raw honey that is rich in enzymes is the only way to ensure you’re getting the benefits. Honey is naturally antibacterial, helps improve healing but is also known for balancing natural oils, eliminating the appearance of dullness, and being extremely hydrating. The addition of orange juice is to remove dirt, oil, and impurities while providing an instant glow.

Helichrysum essential oil is great for brightening the skin, has potent anti-inflammatory properties and may help prevent UV-induced skin damage.

Get all of these recipes in a printable document, here.